The Gateway Newspaper
Even when oysters are in season, you might have to leave clams in the sand
This online story is part of a monthly environmental column for The Gateway Newspaper and Tacoma News Tribune. Carly began writing for The Gateway in November 2019. Other environmental columns published online can be found at: https://www.thenewstribune.com/search/?q=Carly+vester
Read the story online: https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/community/gateway/g-opinion/article245499675.html
This summer has spurred a new enthusiasm for the outdoors across the nation, causing record-setting numbers at trails, recreation areas, and shellfish harvesting.
The bivalve gusto has now caused early closure of oyster harvesting at several Hood Canal beaches to deter illegal harvest of clams. Yep — clams.
Oyster harvesting closed on September 1 at Belfair State Park, Potlatch beaches, and Twanoh State Park. Both mussel and clam harvesting seasons were already closed at these beaches. But, with oyster harvesting still open, managers were reporting consistently large numbers of illegal clam harvesters, despite closure signage for clam season.
Mussels, clams, and oysters are gathered at beaches across the Puget Sound, its islands, and the coast. What most don’t realize is that each has its own harvesting season and regulations, including awareness of marine biotoxins in the surrounding water. Collection varies in every area; like seasonal fishing, harvest isn’t always open for all three at the same time.
So, oyster season was closed early.
There’s a beautiful First Nations saying that when the tide’s out, the table’s set. But it seems we still have a misunderstanding of the seemingly endless bounty of our natural resources.
Historically, this misunderstanding is stark. Overharvesting and pollution led to the near depletion of Washington’s only native oyster in the early 1900’s. Even today, the Olympia oyster is usually not harvesters’ pick due to scarcity and size (the non-native Pacific oyster is the more common bivalve of choice). Good resource management has abated this, and, in the case of Olympia oysters, tireless restoration practices. Washington actually has a restoration initiative in place, assisted by several organizations, to restore these native oysters to our waters.
Managers have an important role to play, but so do we. Self-education never hurt anyone. For those enjoying subsistence from harvesting, fishing, hunting, or gathering, make a quick Google search before you leave the house. The resources are endless! From interactive local maps with posted conditions to detailed histories of a species, the information is right there at our fingertips.
Not only does self-education protect the health of a species, but it also could protect our own health. Water quality can cause harvesting closures overnight. Oysters, clams, and mussels are all filter-feeders; they pump water through their systems, primarily filtering out and eating algae. When shellfish eat a biotoxin, it accumulates in their tissue — the part that we like to eat. Paralytic shellfish poisoning, for example, is a biotoxin spurred by harmful algae blooms when water conditions are favorable.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is encouraging shellfish harvesters to research other beaches around the Sound and check biotoxin information day-of. Be sure to follow proper harvesting etiquette, too: fill clam holes after digging, leave oyster shells on the beach, and abide by size and daily limits to help maintain these bivalves as a sustainable resource (and avoid getting a ticket!).